Methods based on aerodynamics are developed to simulate and control the motion of objects in fluid flows. To simplify the physics for animation, the problem is broken down into two parts: a fluid flow regime and an object boundary regime. With this simplification one can approximate the realistic behaviour of objects moving in liquids or air. It also enables a simple way of designing and controlling animation sequences: from a set of flow primitives, an animator can design the spatial arrangement of flows, create flows around obstacles and direct flow timing. The approach is fast, simple, and is easily fitted into simulators that model objects governed by classical mechanics. The methods are applied to an animation that involves hundreds of flexible leaves being blown by wind currents.

A method of visualizing equations in their explicit form using 3D fields is described. Equations are written algebraically, interpreted by an equation parser, and then expressed as scalar fields. Fields are represented as isosurfaces, making use of an algorithm similar to the method of marching cubes. The implementation allows the real-time interaction of equation parameters, isosurface rotations, and coloring. A variety of applications from mathematics and physics are given, together with examples of construction of data probes using equations.>